Cubs to host provincials

The Medicine Hat Cubs will play for the provincial crown.

The Cubs have been selected to host the 2020 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships, presented by ATB Financial, April 2-5.

Cubs GM Dave Kowalchuk informed his players on Tuesday night that they would have a chance to play for a ring.

"We had a meeting at practice and we told them," Kowalchuk said. "They were blown away. They jumped up and were cheering and clapping.

"They're excited. Practice was pretty intense."

The Blackfalds Wrangers were originally slated to host the provincial tourney. But after the franchise's off-season move to Sylvan Lake, the bidding was opened back up and Medicine Hat emerged victorious in the process that included four other HJHL squads.

"Our team has struggled for the last five years," Kowalchuk said. "We took over last year and tried to change the culture.

"We want to be a developmental team. We want to build champions on and off the ice.

"I think we improved leaps and bounds last year. We had some success — we took Coaldale to seven games in the South (Division) semifinal.

"And the boys bought in. We have a good board, a good staff, and the guys are starting to see there's something special here.

The recently renovated, 1,200-seat Kinplex will host the province's top teams in the spring.

"There's a rich history here with the Cubs," Kowalchuk said. "And we basically have a new arena. There have been $1.5-million upgrades. The city has been great and has accommodated us with so much.

"We have a new logo and we're bringing the colours back to what the team used in the '70s. I think all of that plays into the decision that Hockey Alberta made. They like what they're seeing."

"We're trying to run our team like a junior A franchise. The guys have seen it all summer and there's a buzz around the team."

The Kinplex will be a busy place this season with the Cubs also hosting the HJHL All-Star Game and Top Prospects Game on Jan. 5.

"We're pretty blessed to have the all-star game, and now this," Kowalchuk said. "Medicine Hat is a hockey hub.

"The U-17s are here this year, too. So there's a lot of good hockey coming to the city and we're just happy to showcase our league and our team."

The Cubs begin their trek to the provincial tournament Friday in Airdrie against the 2019 Alberta champion Thunder (8 p.m.).

Following another road tilt in High River the following week, the Cubs will welcome the Lomond Lakers to the Kinplex for the home opener on Sept. 29 (2:45 p.m.).